Start Hybrid Mixing with a Budget Audio Interface

[@askdrtk]

If you have a least one spare pair of inputs and outputs on your audio interface, trying a hybrid setup is a good way to go before upgrading your audio interface. That way, you can find out if you enjoy the hybrid workflow and if your want to expand your setup before committing to an interface that may not suit your needs whether it is too many or too few channels. Whether for tracking, mixing, or both, trying out a hybrid configuration can bring new interest into your studio. Either way, if it is time for an audio interface upgrade, consider the interface's expansion options for both inputs and outputs before making a decision. I hope you enjoy this look at hybrid mixing for beginners! Cheers, Todd.

[@dsylmusic]

Very helpful. For expanding on my current interface I relied on Mac OS aggregate device feature in audio setup. This allowed me to run 2/3 interfaces and have all ins and outs accessible in Logic.

[@no-yj2cf]

I'm the guy who bought a stereo hardware mix bus processor even though his interface only has 2 inputs 💀. Rookie mistake, but as a home recording artist, it'll be nice to force myself to stop recording when mixing, and stop mixing when recording.

[@Skibosski]

Your channel has taught me SO damn much last year. Thank you for your time in making these videos and sharing your knowledge.. wish 2024 brings you blessings sir!!!!!

[@askdrtk]

Very much appreciated, I am glad you are enjoying my videos! Best wishes in the new year!

[@Observerw]

Hey can you please help me I am barley getting into analog gear and I have a rme ucx2 and just bought a 1073spx and distressor compressor I only want to use for vocals at I don’t record any instruments and don’t plan to for a long time how would I connect everything I’m a noob like what cables do I use and where do I place them and then how would I control the gain etc and set it up in my daw which is protools I know it’s alot any help would be appreciated thanks

[@t2mccoy]

There's a lot of words in here I don't know what they mean. Like what is a 2 bus? I know a bus is a mixer inside you mix so it combines multiple tracks/sends into one volume. But you use it. Also what is a color box? Is there a video that teaches all these words? Or a book resource I need to acquire?

[@askdrtk]

Great question, probably not one place with everything, but this makes me think about creating a pro audio terminology guide... You will find the term 2 bus is often interchanged with "mix bus" or "master bus." It is the final or "default" stereo mix output either from a DAW or a mixing console. A "color box" in pro audio generally reverse to an effect unit that imparts a sonic imprint on signal passed through it. Color boxes usually contain a combination of circuits to manipulate sound. These can include EQs, compressors, de-essers, but you will also often find transformers and other analog circuitry that "color" the sound. I hope this helps out!

[@b.hornetiii.6771]

This is going to be "out of the blue question", but I'm going to ask anyway: what do you think about E-mu 1820m sound card? I have it on an old computer just to transfer the raw data via optical out from my Korg Kronos 2 and In on e-mu card so that the trasfer is digital. It's an old card but somehow the sound is still great. I will buy Focusrite Clarett 4 pre because there a lot of noise when I plug analog geat through this old card (and converters are not up to date (ot that good)I assume...), but the digital transfer (optical) is more than O.K. How would you rate this sound card, can it still be in use, or are the new ones much better?

[@Atmanam]

Amazing Video! Thank you!

[@keeppushin2592]

i really need to see an example, have i been using my pre wrong :(

[@ramencurry6672]

Excellent video. I need to learn this. It does seem confusing with all that routing and knowing the little details

[@askdrtk]

Glad you enjoyed it. There definitely are a number of considerations when it comes not only to connecting but getting the gain and other settings as good as possible. This is the first of a number of videos where I will cover all of those topics up to and including a full desktop hybrid build (likely will be a live stream). I hope it's a fun ride for all...

[@rch3290]

thank you can you do a obs shure microphone obs filter/any filter microphone

[@askdrtk]

Glad to help out! Yes, I will be doing an OBS microphone setup guide with V29.

[@deepakaroramusic]

hi sir just out of curiosity i am having motu 896mk3 hybrid using with mac studio and i want to know shall i go for bettermaker limiter 2 or shall i change my audio interface to apollo x8p for professional mixing and mastering

[@askdrtk]

The x8p is a step up in terms of both the analog signal path and conversion vs the 896mk3. I would suggest you will notice the x8p upgrade more so than adding the bml2 to your 896mk3 in terms of overall sonic quality. With everything going in and out of your interface, a solid foundation will help you get the most out of any outboard you add later.

[@sixstringsfilms]

So I should go for x8p apollo and then after sometime should go for BMl2 right ?

[@askdrtk]

That plan makes sense and also paves the way to support other future high-quality outboard gear you may wish to add.

[@Miko1963]

Thanks for this most informative video. I have subscribed and will have a look at more soon... 😊 I do have a question now: You recommend at least 8 ins and outs on the audio interface, but I have the Focurite Scarlet 4i4 for my simple studio. Is it possible to chain analog gear in the send - return loop? Note that I have a E-mu Proteus 2000 synth module which I'd like to hook up on top of my ART Pro VLA II compressor. Many thanks, and best regards! Fondly, Michael 🥸

[@askdrtk]

Glad to hear you enjoyed my video and welcome aboard! You can chain analog gear through the 3-4 IO loop on the 4i4. In your case you would connect the Pro VLA through IO 3-4 and connect the E-mu outputs to the TRS line inputs 1-2 on the 4i4’s combo jacks. I suggest an interface with more IO only for flexibility, with the gear you are using the 4i4 has what you need . I hope this helps out, Cheers!

[@Miko1963]

@@askdrtkMany thanks. I think I understand now! 👍

[@davidhendricksonakadhdaboss]

I have a focuserite 18i20 and a presonus studio channel strip but I don’t know how to connect it to use it to mix and master can you help me

[@askdrtk]

For use in your DAW, you need to create a loop. One output from the 18i20 to the Studio Channel input and then connect the Studio Channel output to one input on the 18i20. When connecting to the 18i20 I recommend TRS cables for both connections to avoid the risk of damage from phantom power either way. Also, it can be beneficial to use the same numbers input and output on the 18i20 as some DAWs require that configuration. If you are using both headphone jacks and studio monitors you probably want to stick to IO 3 though 6, Hope this helps out!

[@davidhendricksonakadhdaboss]

@@askdrtk wow ok, thank you 😊 so so much for your time that you did not have to give. Ok I will try that and see if it works. I will keep in touch. Thank you and God bless you

[@davidhendricksonakadhdaboss]

@@askdrtk so when connecting the way you explained, that’s creating a loop

[@davidhendricksonakadhdaboss]

@@askdrtk I use MPC studio. Do I need to switch any of the settings in Focusrite control

[@b.hornetiii.6771]

Great video. I mix in Korg Kronos 2 workstation (with other synths connected...) then via optical out go to computer for mastering additional processing etc; (I don't like computer "workflow"). Now I'm thinking of buying SSL Fusion (analog out of course) and Black Lion revolution 2X2 for convertion into the computer so my mixes can have a little "warmth" and other stuff, maybe also a VCA compressor like Alysia Neo to insert into fusion ... Do you think Black Lion revolution could handdle the convertion from analog to digital well? I heard only a good stuff about this audio interface and it's not expensive like Prsym Sound Lyra 2 and so on ... Until now I was 100% in "digital domain" In and Out, but with fusion it can get "nasty" haha; especially if I want to go to the max (mastering stage) into audio interface with compressor and everything approaching zero if I deside that mastering plugins are not an option anymore. And Black Lion has S/pdif in and out, so it's just for me, If I go back and forth later (between computer and workstation...).

[@askdrtk]

Glad you enjoyed it! Nice setup with the Kronos 2... I haven't personally tested the Revolution 2x2. I generally have a pretty high regard for Black Lion gear, but there are a couple of things about the 2x2 that are of concern. First, there has been some discussion about the preamps being noisy and since the line inputs do not bypass the preamps, I wonder how much usable trim control there would be. The second issue is that while the internal components are generally high quality as you would expect from BL, they are using a Cirrus Logic CS4272-CZZ for AD and DA conversion (this may explain the warm sound some have described). This is a very inexpensive converter that has been around since the mid 2000s. I'm not so much worried about cost, but conversion has come a long way since then. Today you can get a MOTU M4 with ESS Sabre32 Ultra converters (the same ones in their high end interfaces) that also has true line inputs bypassing the preamps. For mastering applications, transparency for the DA conversion is critical (you need to hear an unaltered version of what is being printed). AD conversion can be colored is you want to imprint a particular tonality on your masters, but if I had only one set of converters they would be transparent for both DA and AD. Another option is the Clarett+ 4pre (this model as it has true line inputs that bypass the preamps). Focusrite upgraded the converters in the plus series to Cirrus CS-43198 for DA and CS-5381 for AD, both of which outperform the CS4272 significantly. Take my concerns about the Revolution 2x2 with a grain of salt as I have not tested is, but I do have a MOTU 828ES and Clarett+ 8 pre (among other converters) and I will say conversion on both units is very transparent after testing with numerous repeated passes. Sorry for the long winded response, but I hope it helps out...

[@b.hornetiii.6771]

@@askdrtk Ooo, thanks ... I will take a look at MOTU M4 and Focusrite, yes I don't want any "color" and especially not bad conversion, this would be really crazy, buying all those high - end gear and then going into something cheap and not transparent...:)) Thank you again for valuable information, nothing is too long if it guides you in the right direction ... :) p.s. And yes working with Kronos is super fast (1001 options inside), the workflow is top notch, everything connected, you just go like a Formula 1 race car.:)) I just hope Focusrite Clarret plus 2 pre is the same as 4 pre, because I need only two inputs ... Nope. Plus 4 pre is better - s/pdif in and out, 2 pre only optical In.